us it was that on Thursday and Friday there; appeared in the
_Bridgeboro Evening Record_ an advertisement which read:

See the High School events on the river from Alligator Island, seats
ten cents. Fine view of the races. Free transportation both ways.
Alligator Island belongs to the boy scouts and is in the middle of the
river, commanding a fine view because the boats go around it. Boat
goes back and forth from Gilroy's field. Absolutely safe. Take the
beautiful ride to Alligator Island and see the races for only ten
cents. Children in arms if not accompanied by parents have to pay five
cents.

It will be observed from the advertisement that Merry-go-round Island,
alias the Isle of Desserts, was now masquerading under a new name,
which had been given it in the hope of obliterating all memories of its
wandering past.

Being now a respectable stay-at-home island, stuck fast with each part
of its coast true to its proper compass point, what more natural than
that its roving youth should be treated as a closed book by its owners?
There it sat in the middle of the glinting river, its sturdy
understructure reposing upon Waring's reef.

Even at low ride the shallow water rippled about it. At high tide the
coy reef withdrew entirely within the briny deep, so that the
unromantic and unsightly scow was not visible and the island stood in
all its wild and floral beauty, a vision of picturesque delight for
three or four hours each day at full tide. From the mainland (some
thirty feet distant according to a piece of string) the yellow
dandelions could be seen dotting its geometric coast and occasionally
some drowsy turtle, with neck extended, was visible, sleeping in the
sun.

The only historic memento of Minerva Skybrow's lawn party to be found
upon the island now was the refreshment board, quite empty. It is true
that an explorer, delving among the rocks and crevices, might have
found some fugitive stuffed olive or perchance a lost nut or raisin
here and there. But the feast of Dessert Isle was now a part of
history. Minerva's little tent had been delivered to her (for Pee-wee
could not eat that) and only the makeshift table which had supported
the absconding repast remained.

This was now made into two long benches, supported by sticks driven
into the ground. It was intended that the overflow from this
grandstand should sit on the grass. These preparations completed, our
hero, accompanied by Brownie and